Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As many are aware, over the past 12 years, I have focused exclusively on producing some of the finest and most spectacular examples of Sinaloan and Nelson's milk snakes in the country. I have had the good fortune to know some great people and work with some truly amazing animals, which has allowed me to become a leader in producing so many unique and outstanding color and pattern mutations. Although I have worked very hard at mastering this specialty, just as seasons change, over time our interests can change as well. 2010 will most likely be my final year in working with these high end animals.

The decision to no longer keep and produce mutations of this type derives from many different variables; some personal while others revolve around the simple fact that these snakes have, over time, lost a bit of my interest. However, the possibility of producing some of the first albino splotched X t+ albinos and hypoerythristic splotched in the near future might help to keep a few select animals in the collection for an additional season or two. Only time will tell.

Those who know me, understand my passion for field herping and working with wild-type locality Lampropeltis. To me, this has always been more gratifying over the years and although I can appreciate mutations, no longer producing them on a large scale will ultimately allow me more the opportunity to do what I enjoy the most. Because of my love for triangulum, Cosala, Mexican locality L. sinaloae will remain in the collection as well as gaigeae, annulata and celaenops. I will continue to focus on locale specific members of the Mexicana Complex and now keep an array of locality Arizona and Mexican pyromelana/knoblochi, L. zonata, as well as Mexican pituophis. But again, for now, I plan on keeping all of the sinaloan/nelson's morphs through the end of the year before I sit down to reevaluate my decision in letting them go. If I do, it will be a fantastic opportunity for those who appreciate these beautiful animals as I have over the years.

With this hobby, I have believed in keeping what you truly enjoy, being fair and honest, and have cared about establishing friendships with those who share my passion for these incredible creatures more than anything else. Living by these ethics has put me where I am today. Not only do I have my mentors, Pete Cragg and David Doherty to thank, most importantly, thank all of you that have been supportive of me over the past 12 years. I have developed some solid friendships with many of you; friendships that I appreciate more than you realize. I have built a strong foundation and name in the keeping of these incredible snakes but feel it soon may be time for me to step down and let others enjoy the success I have with these animals. By no means am I leaving...just switching gears a bit. It's been a great ride but, in the end, it's always best to realize what's most important to us.
Nathan Wells

A few individuals that have known of my recent thoughts of moving away from mutations have all agreed on one similar point. As they have all said to me, I am definitely a different person than I was 5 years ago and even more so now while being at the top of my game. One of the main reasons for this personal change is that I have recently become a new father. Having a daughter now and a son on his way in 4 weeks has really put some things in perspective and helped to prioritize what is most important. A few have asked, why then go a different direction now that that you have children? My answer is that the sinaloan/nelson's make up a good portion of my collection and by simply cutting back and refining to what I really enjoy keeping, actually allows for more important time with my family. Ultimately, I want my children to know me as that awesome dad who takes them to cool places to find neat looking snakes and not a boring dad who does nothing but spends all of his time in the snake room cleaning tons of poop. I am sure the guys with children probably can relate.
Nathan Wells

forever Nathan.

However, I see your plan as a smart one. You've started your own "high-end" breeding group...so you should focus on that for a while!

As long as you still post your epic field adventures...I think we will all be happy here in forum land.

Talk to you soon,
Rusty

Nathan, it is great that you realize its just a hobby for your personal enjoyment. I burnt out a few year back with family and job commitments and sold off all my animals except two pet snakes. I am now back into it and I certainly understand where you are coming from. With breeding season approaching and 30 snakes, four lizards, and five tortoises to care for, time is critical. The kids still need help with homework and after school attention, and the wife still needs help with dinner after her full time job. My family is not a hobby and give me more joy than keeping reptiles will ever provide. I now have about a half hour to hour of herp chores daily keeping up with everything and getting my adult colubrids breeding. So far so good and no regrets. However, I will sell off everything in a heartbeat again if need be. If it aint fun, I dont want to do it LOL!!

Nate:

I've got a 4-year-old son and I could not agree with your statement more. Priorities change or in some cases get refined. I hear you.

Rob

"Ultimately, I want my children to know me as that awesome dad who takes them to cool places to find neat looking snakes and not a boring dad who does nothing but spends all of his time in the snake room cleaning tons of poop. I am sure the guys with children probably can relate."

Absolutely!!!!
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

Great thread! and that's some killers milks you have. I would love to have couple or those snakes. Thanks for sharing.

To the dark side... or perhaps I should say "news-printed side"...

L. t. multistrata - Thomas Co., NE

L. t. multistrata - Yellowstone Co., MT

It was good to talk to you a couple weeks ago, buddy. I wondered when you were going to make this post, since it seemed you were pretty serious about re-focusing your herp-keeping efforts.

Talk to you soon, amigo
-Cole

>>To the dark side... or perhaps I should say "news-printed side"...

Right on Cole-eo! It's never about the bling.

Wait until they are teenagers - you'll want a full herp room to lock yourself into.. lol

I'm glad you chose locality over color morphs. In the long run, I think most herpers always appreciate locality snakes.
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Mark

Wow, if I'd known this was coming, I never would have poked fun at your albino project! It hope my tongue-in-cheek (more like foot-in-mouth!) comments haven't diminished anyone's enthusiasm for (or value of) the exceptional milksnakes you've worked so hard to produce.

I don't have any kids of my own, but as someone who deliberately keeps his collection as small as willpower allows, I can relate to your desire to keep your hobby from encroaching on more important areas of your life. Your kids will thank you for it someday. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of accompanying my father (who's lurking on this forum... hi, Dad!) on trips through the woods, looking for herps, rare plants, or unusual rocks and minerals. Even a walk through the backyard can be an adventure... train those kids up right, and they could be herping before they've even grown a full head of hair. I'm living proof that it's possible!

Nate

I think of that picture often, laughing enough to finally give up "lurking". All too happy to have instilled an appreciation for the natural wonders, happier to have you taken to them.

Now that I've broken the silence, greeting to all, I've enjoyed the posts so far this year, especially those concerning gaigeae and micropholis.

All right, I knew that would get your attention. So, since both the picture and my memory of that day are both a little too fuzzy to tell for sure... what's do I have in my little hands there? I figure it's got to be either a garter snake, a ribbon snake, or a hookah hose...

It's a Northern Ribbon Snake, you are in fact holding the first verified specimen in the state of Maine. I'd seen those things all my life and never knew it was a big deal until I mentioned it to Mr. Eastman, next thing I know he's hauling a herpetologist from UMO down here to see it... who knew

And to think that first known ribbon snake in the state had the rare priveledge of being tortured by Nate!..LOL!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

What a great post.I also have a father to thank for my interest, knowledge, and fascination with our natural environment.My earliest childhood memory is of an Eastern Hognose swallowing a toad beside our swimming pool.Thanks to a father for pointing out the beauty,mystery,and lessons that are all around us if we only take the time to watch.

I had the same kind of upbringing!

My first pet snake was an eastern hog...I think I was in first grade...I spent almost every night searching for toads and frogs for it to eat. My mom always thought I was going to get in trouble for being outside with a flashlight...like someone was going to call the cops on a 1st grade kid!

I thought it was weird that everyone didn't have a snake!

-Rusty

It means more to me than you may realize in knowing that I have the kind of support I do from my friends on this forum. I have also received dozens of emails and phone calls from others over the past week; all with similar remarks and words of encouragement. I guess the reason I have felt it important to share is that this has been a difficult decision for me, something a few of you know I have been battling with over the past few years. The support I have has certainly made the decision a lot easier. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all of the sinaloan/nelson's mutations for several years and it goes without saying that they have always been very special to me.

Yes, the shrinking of the collection to spend more time with the family is definitely one reason but the excitement of producing the morphs has simply, gone away. The many of you who follow my herping adventures know, I am and have always been a desert loving kind of guy. My ultimate plan is to make it seen through my personal collection as well, with the keeping of mostly montane and desert dwelling snakes from the Southwest and Mexico.

The time will come when all of the mutations will be gone, the collection will eventually be refined with more natural and just as beautiful species and I will be back in the field doing what I do best. So like I have mentioned before, I won't be going anywhere and plan to stick around with you guys for a very, very long time.

Kind regards,
Nathan Wells

I'm really glad your not going any where Nathan, we need your positive attitude, and great field reports more then ever.

Your kids are going to do great if you keep putting them before yourself like that.

-Dell

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Good move.

And nice pics...